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28 March 2024

Why polio-free UAE has launched immunisation campaign

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, remain polio-endemic in 2014, according to WHO report.

Published

The UAE has rolled out a new National Polio Immunisation Campaign, targeting nearly 416,000 children below the age of five years with an additional dose of vaccine.

The first dose of the campaign will run from November 16 to 27, followed by a second from January 11 until 22, which is being organised by the UAE’s Ministry of Health (MoH), in conjunction with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD).

The Ministry maintains that authorities were impelled to launch the campaign for an additional booster as immunisation support campaigns remain the fastest way to increase protection in children.

Even though the UAE has been declared polio free since 1992 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), this additional supplementary dosage has also been tagged as an added safety measure following new cases of polio reported in 2013 and 2014 in ‘some neighbouring countries’, according to the MoH flyer.

The WHO reports only three countries, namely Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, remain polio-endemic in 2014.

This year till date, 236 cases of polio have been reported in Pakistan alone, prompting the government to make it mandatory for residents flying to the UAE and other countries to be vaccinated and carry certificates of the same from June 1 of this year.

All the passengers – including pregnant women – need to get vaccination dose at federal and provincial hospitals and airports before departure.

Dr. Hussein Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Clinics and Health Centres, MoH stated that the purpose of the UAE national immunisation campaign was also a measure to fight the entry of the virus to the UAE.

When quizzed whether the UAE was working in conjunction with airport authorities simultaneously to offer health checks here, Dr. Rand said: “We have provided medical centres at local airports across the UAE to provide assistance to cases of children aged between one and five years that are travelling into the country.” 

Dr. Farida Al Hosani, Director of Communicable Diseases, Public Health and Research Dept, HAAD, added: “The airport facilities are open for the sick and children entering the country, while medical centres and hospitals across the UAE are also open to residents who have family members visiting and have children in need of this vaccine below the age of five years and do not have insurance for the same. This is a free service we provide.”

Of the 416,000 children targeted in the drive, approximately 87,000 are in Dubai alone.

Children will receive two drops orally (twice) at fixed sites, clinics and centres across the UAE, in addition to participating schools. It will also include field sites for inaccessible categories.

Last year, the UAE pledged Dh440 million to support global efforts to eradicate polio by 2018. The vaccination campaign aims to reach millions of children in Pakistan, and was launched by the UAE-Pakistan Assistance Program.

During the UAE’s four-month effort to combat the disease, children were vaccinated in 25 areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and other tribal regions.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, Etihad Airways also began screening a short inflight video prior to arrival on all flights to Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi.

The inflight programme, ‘Leap of Faith’, aims to raise awareness of this crippling and potentially fatal disease to the many thousands of Pakistani workers returning home or visiting their families, the airline said.

Fast facts on polio campaign

Polio is an infectious disease that affects young children and can cause life-long paralysis or death, according to MoH.

The disease is not curable.

The only form of protection is the required dose of the polio vaccine as part of the country’s national programme.

In its official circular, the Ministry further states: ‘In 2013 and 2014, some neighbouring countries that were polio free have reported new cases of polio. To ensure the disease is not imported into the country and to strengthen children’s immunity against polio, it is important to conduct the campaign and vaccinate children who are at risk’.

The Ministry further states that even if a child has already taken the vaccine earlier, the campaign is providing supplementary doses for ‘extra protection to your child and community’.

The Ministry further adds: ‘It is safe to administer multiple does of the vaccine to children. The vaccine is made to be given several times to ensure full protection’.